20-05-2025
Public transport operators in Bengal to go on three-day strike; allege police excesses, stringent govt directives
Several transport operators' associations across the State have collectively called for a 72-hour strike starting May 22, alleging the government's 'unsatisfactory' response to their grievances against 'police oppression' and stringent government directives.
The strike will prevail between May 22 and May 24. It was called primarily by bus operators' associations of the State.
Representatives of transport operators' associations met with transport secretary Saumitra Mohan multiple times and reportedly for the last time on Tuesday, before calling the strike their 'last resort'.
Their demands include an end to alleged police excesses and relaxation of certain directives surrounding vehicle fitness.
'This has become a fight for survival now, with the police torture and the government's Sanjog Portal. It will no longer be possible for us to feed our families or educate our children,' Sandip Sengupta, secretary of the Minibus Operators Coordination Committee, told local mediapersons after they met with government authorities on Tuesday.
Sanjog Portal is a unified e-challan system recently put in place by the West Bengal government for online resolution of traffic violation cases and fine payments.
Public transport operators have been protesting against the transport department's recent directive mandating the use of the Sanjog Portal. They have accused traffic police personnel and civic volunteers of imposing arbitrary fines, citing this as an additional financial burden over increasing operational costs.
The State transport department also directed that no fitness or pollution certificates would be issued to vehicles with unresolved violation cases, adding to the transport owners' woes.
'We had a virtual meeting today. But we did not get a satisfactory response from them. They said they will look into the matter. We did not receive anything concrete regarding our demands, which is why we are compelled to bring our services to a halt on May 22, May 23 and May 24. We can't operate under such oppression by the police, and with the Sanjog Portal directive,' Pradip Narayan Basu, secretary of the West Bengal Bus Minibus Owners' Association, said.
Several representatives who met the transport secretary, including Mr Basu, said on Tuesday that the Chief Minister's intervention is their 'last hope to keep public transport operational'.
